Admissions
Getting in, fall 2025
Rhode Island admits about 9 in 10 applicants (86%). That puts it in the "Open" tier, more selective than 33% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.
Out of every 100 applicants…
The funnel
Men and women were admitted at similar rates (90% and 93%).
Applicants from Rhode Island and from other states were admitted at similar rates (87% and 85%).
$50 to apply
Can be waived for applicants with financial need.
Grants credit for AP exams
Yield
24% of admitted students enroll, in the typical range nationally.
No wait list
Applying early
Early action (not binding): apply by Dec 15
No early decision plan.
Where you stand
How Rhode Island reads a record
, GPA, class rank, and tests are all very important. 17% of first-years who sent test scores had a 3.75 or higher. Scores aren't read. Requires 4 years of English, 3 of math, 2 of science, and 2 of social studies. See the years by subject
What they look at
Considers whether an applicant's parent attended (legacy status).
| Very important | Important | Considered | Not considered | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic | |||||
| Rigor of high school record | Very important | ||||
| Class rank | Very important | ||||
| Academic GPA | Very important | ||||
| Test scores | Very important | ||||
| Essay | Important | ||||
| Recommendations | Important | ||||
| Personal | |||||
| Interview | Very important | ||||
| Extracurricular activities | Important | ||||
| Talent or ability | Important | ||||
| Character and personal qualities | Very important | ||||
| First generation | Not considered | ||||
| Alumni relation (legacy) | Important | ||||
| Geographic residence | Very important | ||||
| State residency | Very important | ||||
| Religious affiliation | Very important | ||||
| Volunteer work | Important | ||||
| Work experience | Important | ||||
| Demonstrated interest | Very important | ||||
From the federal survey: high school record required; college-prep program required; English proficiency test required
Transferring in
94% of transfer applicants were admittedvs. 86% of first-year applicants
1,480 applied · 1,390 admitted · 674 enrolled
Transfers may start in the fall and spring.
At least 24 per credit completed to apply as a transfer.
Minimum college GPA: 2.0
Grants credit for course work completed at another college
Dates
- Fall entry: decisions on a rolling basis
- Spring entry: decisions on a rolling basis
What the application needs
- High school transcript
- Not required
- College transcripts
- Required
- Essay or personal statement
- Required
- Statement of good standing from a prior college
- Required
Applying
The regular round, as the college reports it. Early rounds have their own dates.
- Apply by March 15 for fall 2026.
- Priority date: December 15. Applying by then can matter for scholarships, programs, or housing.
- Decisions are sent on a rolling basis starting November 1.
- Admitted students must reply by May 1, or within 2 weeks if admitted later.
- $200 housing deposit, due June 15, refundable.
- Admitted students may postpone enrollment for a gap year. Longest postponement: 1 Year.
What you'll need in high school
Requires a high school diploma; accepts the GED.
Recommends a college-preparatory program in high school.
| Years of | Required |
|---|---|
| English | 4 |
| Math | 3 |
| Science (lab: 2) | 2 |
| Foreign language | 2 |
| Social studies | 2 |
| Academic electives | 5 |
| Total | 18 |
A unit is a year of the subject; lab science is part of science.
Recent change: Stopped requiring an essay (still considered) in fall 2023.
Recent change: Became test-blind, for students entering in fall 2027.
On the admissions map
↑ SAT midpoint (higher = higher scores)
Fall 2025 first-years
First-years' high school GPA
Average GPA 3.19
High schools grade differently, and colleges recalculate or weight GPAs their own way, so compare this college only with itself.
First-years by high school GPA (4.0 scale)
- 4.09%
- 3.75–3.997%
- 3.50–3.7414%
- 3.25–3.4917%
- 3.00–3.2417%
- below 3.036%
The middle half had GPAs of 2.50–3.74.
All nine bands
| GPA | Sent test scores |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | 9.0% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 7.5% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 13.8% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 17.0% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 17.2% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 26.4% |
| 2.0–2.49 | 8.9% |
| 1.0–1.99 | 0.2% |
| below 1.0 | 0.0% |
Source:Rhode Island College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Test scores
What enrolled first-years scored
The typical enrolled first-year who sent scores is around 995 on the SAT, 175 points below the median for colleges that report scores.
Not considered
Scores aren't considered, even if you send them. For students entering in fall 2027.
Where would you land?
Middle 50% of enrolled first-years who sent scores This college's median National median midpoint
Who submitted scores?
submitted SAT
submitted ACT
Read with care: fewer than half of enrolled students submitted either test, so these ranges may run high. Learn about admissions.
Sources:Rhode Island College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation), 2025–26;Rhode Island College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Rhode Island College Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;Rhode Island College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 cycleAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)